Unheralded Welsh golfer Liam Bond took advantage of his late call-up to snatch the lead after the second round of the Wales Open on Friday.
Bond is ranked 1,528th in the world and only received a phone call on Wednesday afternoon telling him he was in the STG1.8 million ($A3.15 million) event at Celtic Manor.
But the 43-year-old has made the most of his opportunity with rounds of 69 and 68 to move five under par for the tournament, one shot clear of overnight leader Espen Kofstad and South African Tjaart van der Walt.
Norway's Kofstad could only add a second-round 74 to his opening 64 to finish four under, one ahead of playing partner and European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley, who carded four birdies and two bogeys in a 69.
England's Graeme Storm was alongside McGinley on three under after a round of 68.
Australian Richard Green started the day joint second but blew out with a 76 to be five shots off the pace in a tie for 20th.
Best of the Aussies was Brett Rumford (69), tied for 11th at one under par.
Bond, who lives just minutes away from the course, won his European Tour card on his 16th visit to the qualifying school in 2010 but was unable to retain it after finishing 191st on the Order of Merit in 2011.
Since then he has concentrated largely on regional events, winning three this season, and missed the cut in his only Challenge Tour event of 2013 in Scotland in June.
"I'm playing way better than when I had my card in 2011," said Bond, whose career earnings are around STG100,000 ($A175,000).
"If I was on tour this year I would be loving it but I put myself under a lot of pressure when I was on the tour. I was trying to work harder and hit more balls and everything was under close scrutiny."
